Mississaugas chief, council offer condolences after ‘tragic passing ’ of 10-year-old in blaze

Police say six people, including two adults and four children, escaped with minor injuries

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say a child is dead after a trailer fire on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation early Monday.

In a media release, the Haldimand OPP said officers, the Haldimand County Fire Department, the Six Nations Fire Department and paramedics were called to a blaze on Mississauga Road on the reserve just after 1:50 a.m.

Police said when firefighters arrived at the scene they found a camping trailer fully engulfed in flames. After the blaze was put out, a child was located inside and pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement Monday afternoon, the chief and council of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation said the community was “deeply saddened” to learn of the “tragic passing ” of a 10-year-old child in the fire.

“Please join us in expressing our sincere condolences and prayers to the family, and everyone affected by this tragedy,” read the statement, signed by Chief R. Stacey Laforme.

Six other people, including two adults and four children, managed to escape the fire with minor injuries, according to police.

In an email to The Spectator, Const. Ed Sanchuk of the OPP said the trailer was parked on the property and the family was living in it.

Sanchuk could not provide further details on the type of trailer as it was “completely destroyed by the fire,” he added.

The OPP, Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM), as well as the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service are investigating.

In an email to The Spectator, OFM spokesperson Sean Driscoll confirmed that the fire marshal is investigating the cause, origin and circumstances of the blaze, but noted that due to the infancy of the investigation their office “cannot speculate on anything including cause or presence of a working smoke alarm.”

Victim Services of HaldimandNorfolk-New Credit are also helping the family members and victims involved in the fire, according to police. Condolences came in from around the province. Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward announced that the city had lowered its flags to half-mast at city hall. Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie also announced on social media that the city had lowered its Every Child Matter flags.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-3101122.

Those looking to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit tips online at helpsolvecrime.com.

Police said when firefighters arrived at the scene they found a camping trailer fully engulfed in flames